Fourths to george wolf



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W, W. LE GRANDE. ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Patented Feb} 13, 1883.

N. PETERS. Fholz rume m hs. Washin ton. DJ;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. LE GRANDE, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOUETHS TO GEORGE WOLF, F. DE FUNIAK, AND T. J. POTTINGER, ALL

or SAME PLACE.

ELECTRlC RA I LWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,142, dated February 13, 1883'.

Application filed January 4, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. LEGRANDE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Louisville, in the county or Jefi'erson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railway-Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others IO skilled in the art, to which it appertaius to make and use the same.

Thisinven tion relates to an improved electromagnetic signal apparatus especially adapted for railway-signaling, but which may be used 1 5 also for signaling for other purposes.

ltsohject is to secure an extensive movement of a signal from a very small movement of'the armature of an electro-magnet, thus enabling the armature to be always close to the poles of the magnet and within an efiicientattractive power of the same when charged.

The invention consists mainly in the combination, with an eIectro-magnet, of a pivoted lever arranged to tilt vertically in opposite directions, but normally inclined in a-given direction, and having secured to one of its arms an armature arranged to be attracted by the magnet to move the lever in opposition to its normal inclination, and a circularsignal-disk arranged to roll longitudinally upon said lever, and thus be shifted to and from different positio'us.

It consists, besides, in certain details of construction, which will be hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a. view in elevation of the signal apparatus constructed according to my invention, and 4.0 mounted in a casing provided with an aperture for displaying the signal. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the signal apparatus removed from its casing. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, showing the end of the signal-lever and the 5 edge of the signal-disk. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the application of my signal apparatus to a section of railway-track, and illustratingalso a preferred circuitfor operating the signal apparatus when so used.

Referring to Fig. 1, the letter A indicates a casing inclosing the signal apparatus proper, this casing being provided with an aperture, a, through which the signal-disk is displayed. Inside the casing is arranged an electro-magnet, B, in a vertical position. To the lower end of the core of this magnet is secured a bent arm having a vertical portion, a, to the top of which is pivoted a tilting lever, D, carrying upon one of its arms an armature, e, which is arranged to be attracted by the magnet B when the latter is energized. One arm ofthe lever D--the arm to the right in the presentinstance-is heavier than the other, so that it will normallyrest against a stop, j, thus bringing the lever to an inclined position and retracting its armature e from the poles of the magnet B. Instead of overweighting the lever at one end, I may use asuitable spring for drawing the lever to the normally inclined position. The upper side of'this lever is grooved longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a track, upon which rolls a signal-disk, E, which is of such weight that it will not counterbalance the weighted end of the lever when it is at the opposite end of said lever. The disk is prevented from falling otf of its track by suitable guards, g, on opposite sides of its upper edge. The disk rolls freely on its track, and the lever is so arranged that when in its normal position the disk will rest upon its lower inclined end and against a stop, h, which "projects from the wall of the box and prevents the disk from rolling ofi'of the lever.- In this po sition the disk is hidden behindthe wall of the casing. W hen, however, an electrical current traverses the coil of magnet B the core ofsaid magnet becomes energized and attracts its armature 0, thus causing the lever D to be tilted to an opposite inclination from that at which it normally stands, and the disk E there fore rolls from its normal position down the track until it is arrested by a stop, it. It is thus brought into yiew at the opening a ofthe V casing, and in such position serves, as a dan- V gel or other signal. 5

As I have before stated, my signal apparatus is adapted especially for signaling upon railways, and in Fig. 4 I have illustrated its track-section.

application as applied for the protection of a section of railway-track, a signaling apparatus heing'placed at each end of the section and both operated by a single main-line battery. In this arrangement I prefer to operate the signal-moving apparatus directly by means of a local circuit; controlled by a relay arranged in each signal-box.

The letters I and I indicate the relays in the respective signal-boxes at opposite ends of the These relays are connected by an overground or pole line, W, and their terminals opposite those which are thus connected are connected to the respective lines of rails l and Z, which form the track-section, said connections being made at opposite ends of the section, so that the lines of rails will form parallel or lapping terminals of the main line, which may be connected at different points of the section without varying the resistance of the circuit.

A main-line battery, y, maybe connected in the overground portion of the main circuit at any desired point, preferably at one end of the sectionJas shown, where it may be inclosed in a suitable housing attached to the post \vhic supports the signal apparatus.

The local batteries 3 y are preferably inclosed in the signal-casings, asshown. WVhen the armature-levers i are attracted against the lower stops, 7c, the local circuits will be closed and the magnets B charged for operating the signals.

it will now be obvious that when a locomotive, car, or train comes upon the track-section formed by the lines of rails Z l the main-line circuit will be closed through the metallic wheels and axles, and the relay-magnets caused to attract their armature-levers against their lower stops, thus closing. the local circuits and causing the magnets B to display the dangersignals at both ends of the section of track simultaneously, thus warning trains approaching said section at either end that another train is on said section. I do not confine myself to the precise positions of the signals as shown, as it is obvious that they may be arranged transversely with respect to the track, or may be placed respectively on opposite side of the track, which is a preferred arrangement.

Where it is desirable to display two or more danger-signals, either in the front or rear of a moving tr'ain upon a section of track, this can be accomplished by means of a relay arranged in either signal-box and controlling local circuits extended in either direction along the line of railway.

' In case one or more side tracks or branches lines of rails of the section when the switch is thrown open, thus causing danger-signals to be displayed the same as if a car or train were moving on the section. I

It will be understood that the several sections of railway are slightly separated or insulated from each other in the manner usual in block-signaling systems.

I wish it to be understood that although I have shown relays and local circuits for operating the signals, these relays and local circuits may be omitted, and the magnets B con nected directly in the main line, as the armatures of the signal-magnets may be arranged so close to the poles of said magnets, and still effect the proper tilting of the lever, that said arinatures will be attracted when the magnets are charged by a current of even very little strength.

Having now desc ibed my invention, what I claim is 1. Inasignalingapparatus,the combination, with an clectro-magnet, ot a pivoted lever arranged to tilt vertically in opposite directions, but normally inclined in a given direction, and having one of its arms arranged to be attracted by the magnet to move the lever in opposition to its normal inclination, and a circular signal-disk arranged to roll longitudinallyupon said lever,and thus be shifted to and from different positions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the electro-magnet, the tilting lever, and the signal-disk arranged to roll thereon, of the guards arranged to prevent the disk from falling from the lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the electrormagnet, tilting lever, and rolling disk, of the casing having its wall arranged to conceal the signal-disk in one position, and provided with an aperture to display said disk in the opposite position, essentially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the electro-magnet, tilting lever, and rollingdisk, of suitable stops for arresting the movement of said disk, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. LE GRANDE.

Witnesses:

D. D. KANE, A. G. HEYLMUN.

ICC 

